Escambia (Alabama) Sheriff Receives $1.2 Million Radio Grant From Rep. Jerry Carl

February 8, 2023

The Escambia County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office has received a $1.2 million grant to upgrade their radio system.

Alabama Congressman Jerry Carl presented the $1,204,277.52 grant to Sheriff Heath Jackson Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

The grant will allow for towers and equipment to upgrade the agency’s communication to digitally encrypted P25 equipment, similar to what is utilized in neighboring Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.

According to Carl’s office, the radios will “assist first responders in performing their job more efficiently and safely and to deliver an inbound and outbound communication structure to Escambia County, which will tie the East end of Escambia County to an already structured West end of the county, thus closing the gap in radio communications”.

“We will still have to come up with the money to buy radios for vehicles and belts, but this is the major step,” Jackson told NorthEscambia.com from Washington Tuesday afternoon. “I really appreciate the congressman’s help.

“I also want to thank Senator Katie Britt for her help pushing this grant across the finish line,” he added.

Other law enforcement agencies and first responders across Escambia County, Alabama, will have the opportunity to move to the new digital radio system.

Pictured: Alabama Congressman Jerry Carl (pictured top, left and below, right)  presented a  $1,204,277.52 communications grant to Sheriff Heath Jackson Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Escambia (Alabama) Sheriff Receives $1.2 Million Radio Grant From Rep. Jerry Carl”

  1. Taxpayer 1 on March 28th, 2023 3:13 am

    Why are they talking about Encryption if they need better radio communications?
    Encryption does not help make communications better it only helps them hide from the public so they cant be heard.

    Is the upgrade for better radio communications in the county or just a way for them to use Encryption to keep anyone from hearing them?
    Taxpayer money should not be used for Encryption.

  2. dubz on February 10th, 2023 7:33 am

    Building Back Better! Thank you!

  3. George on February 9th, 2023 7:57 am

    @np630ss

    You should Reread the article

    It does not say “presented” by Jerry Carl. It says “”from Jerry Carl”. But it’s not Jerry Carl’s money.

    You say “he didn’t give away anyones money”

    Well, that’s exactly what he did. That’s what the government does. It takes one persons money (taxes). And gives it to someone else (grants and social programs)

    People would be well served to remember that these are our dollars at work. I have no doubt that the Sheriffs office is in need of assistance and will be good stewards of this money.

    However, the assistance that the sheriffs office receives is from us, the taxpayer. And people should not forget that.

  4. np630ss on February 8th, 2023 10:00 pm

    @George -
    Re-read the article. It’s says the money was a GRANT – presented by Jerry Carl. He didn’t “give away” anybody’s money. As this is solely intended to modernize an antiquated first responder communication system – it would be difficult to find a better use for it.

  5. George on February 8th, 2023 12:31 pm

    Wow! I didn’t know Jerry Carl had that kind of money to give away!

    Oh wait, you mean OUR money.